Becoming a Grandparent: A New Role We all know that the aging process impacts us physically and mentally. Many of us adopt new habits in response to these changes, such as eating healthier or exercising more. We might change occupations as we age, or think about preparing for retirement.These are important considerations as we get… read more

Have you ever found yourself repeating relationship patterns that you don’t like or understand? If so, you’re definitely not alone—and Attachment Theory may shed light on what you’re experiencing. Therapist Jacky Casumbal, LGSW, explores the topic below. “We must look at ourselves over and over again in order to learn to love, to discover what… read more

It’s February, and for better or worse, this time of year has a lot of us thinking about love. Not just romantic love, but love for our friends, family members, and all the people who make us feel stronger just by being in our lives. Looking at these relationships, there are probably a few you’d… read more

When a loved one is diagnosed with a debilitating or terminal illness, it can be gut-wrenching and stressful. However, coping with the emotional and psychological impact of such devastating news is only a piece of the experience. The challenges associated with a loved one’s diagnosis grow in both intensity and complexity when we assume the… read more

There’s a scene in Charles Schulz’s iconic holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas, in which Charlie laments to Linus “Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.” Snowflakes fall softly around them as other Peanuts characters glide across a frozen pond dotted by perfectly shaped pine trees. The… read more

Coping with the loss of a loved one is never straightforward or easy, and one particular challenge is knowing how to cope with our memories of the person who has passed. Memories, mementos, and anniversaries can, at times, be lovely reminders of the person we’ve lost; but at other times, dealing with them can be… read more

We’ve all heard that the best type of love comes with no strings attached. The idea that we might come to love someone (usually a significant other) so intensely that we can forgive them all of their faults is a popular one in our cultural mythos. That being said, few people would encourage you to… read more

Studies suggest that satisfactory sibling contact later in life correlates to increased health and positive mood. Yet it’s not easy to gain or maintain closeness as adults, especially when our lives take us physically and emotionally far away from one another. Most of us are no longer able to simply walk across the living room to see a sibling—now, we might need to take a plane. Further, longstanding conflicts can prevent us from getting in touch even when we’d like to.

Do you ever feel like you’re surrounded by positive things—but you just can’t enjoy them? Do you feel the pressure to be joyful and fulfilled, even when you’re not? Our emotional and physical energy are not always what we want them to be. At times this is because past trauma has influenced how we interpret… read more

Every day we are faced with a variety of choices. “Do I drive or walk to work today? Should I stop and get coffee on the way? Do I have time to play with my kids or do I need to answer these emails?” There are a multitude of routine everyday choices, but there… read more